Government to assist hundreds affected by flood waters

Over 1,000 people have been affected by flood waters reported to be at least 15 feet high.

This was disclosed by Minister of State Joseph Harmon who has responsibility of the Civil Defense Commission (CDC) and the coordination of disaster response.

Harmon told reporters at a post-Cabinet press briefing on Thursday that a team from the CDC was dispatched to the flood affected communities on the outskirts of the capital.

He said the team dispatched will have, “a firsthand look and do a proper assessment as to what the true situation is,” adding that “they have already started taking steps to get relief to those persons who are there.”

According to Harmon, residents are receiving support from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) which has a presence in the community, assessing the situation to provide relief. However, the Minister explained that, “it is important to note that some of these communities are in valleys, and therefore, when the rains come down heavily, the waters come down from the mountain and they flood these villages.”

He added that “some of these flood waters you have just to wait until they recede, there is very little that you can do except to provide for the comfort of the residents who are affected by it and that is what we are doing.”

Meanwhile, President David Granger has given certain directions to the CDC, and to the regional administration for actions to be taken, and the support which the government is going to give to the residents who are affected by the flooding.